The Goat Sanctuary started in May 1998 and now has around 160
goats in its care. Many of these arrive suffering from
malnutrition, lice, worms and lameness. Some have been
gifted into us from caring people who can no longer look after
their pets for many reasons. But many arrive abandoned,
miss-treated and unwanted.
The goats are cared for by my husband Stewart, myself Cheryl, a small but very important team of volunteers and Dave the
Vet.
Goats are kept by
people for various reasons, as pets, to produce milk and
cheese, for fibre and sometimes simply to clear areas of land
other farm animals would turn their noses up at.
Goats are inquisitive, intelligent, playful and on the whole
co-operative (although you will always get the odd grump).
They are a herd animal and should never live without the company
of at least one other goat.
We have three
separate herds at the sanctuary. In the wild a goat will
live in a herd of about 45 but as our goats are not related to
each other bullying can take place and we have to keep a close
eye on the more placid ones during the day when they are all
playing out. All the
goats have their own room at night or share with 1 or 2 friends.
All our supporters
are most welcome to visit the goats and spend time cuddling and
fussing them all. There is no shortage of attention seekers
here and there are a number of “professional fabric testers”,
that is, don’t wear your best clothes, if it’s an option
between hay or your woolly in their mouth the woolly wins hooves
down. Be in no doubt, you will be put under personal
inspection!
There are many ways
you can personally help the goats you see in these pages and the
ones we have yet to help.If you don't have the room for a goat of
your own at home visit our page on adoption. Your support will
help keep the goats here fed, watered, housed and most importantly
cuddled 365 days a year for the rest of their life.